Post by Woody Williams on Jun 23, 2007 15:32:45 GMT -5
Black bear caught after wandering in Conn. town
TORRINGTON, Conn. (AP) — State workers captured a young black bear on Friday that had wandered into downtown Torrington and climbed a tree outside an elementary school that was being used by a children's camp.
The bear, believed to be about 2 years old and more than 100 pounds, was tranquilized and released unharmed in an undisclosed location.
"This is a rarity," Torrington Police Lt. Francis Balzano said. "I haven't heard of one downtown. They normally are seen on the outskirts of town near bird feeders and such, but sightings are increasing in more urban areas now."
The wayward bear climbed a tree Friday morning outside Vogel-Wetmore School, where dozens of children from an Education Connections camp watched through the windows. Several children pressed their faces against the glass as the bear dangled from the branches a few feet away.
Residents reported several bear sightings downtown Friday morning, including near City Hall, where Karina Turcotte said she unknowingly walked past the animal.
"I've never seen one this close other than in a zoo," she said.
Workers from the state Department of Environmental Protection attached a tranquilizer to a long pole and injected a sedative into the bear, which eventually fell and landed on several air-filled plastic bags.
State workers injected the bear two more times before he fell unconscious and was taken away.
In Connecticut, black bears can weigh close to 500 pounds and several have been noted weighing in the high 400s, DEP Officer Matt Tomassone said.
Balzano said bear sightings in Torrington, about 30 miles west of Hartford, have become more frequent.
"It's a concern for us," Balzano said. "Usually we get calls from people on the outskirts of town in their backyards and we tell people, 'Hey, enjoy it, stay inside, but enjoy it.' Obviously downtown is different and there are definite concerns."
TORRINGTON, Conn. (AP) — State workers captured a young black bear on Friday that had wandered into downtown Torrington and climbed a tree outside an elementary school that was being used by a children's camp.
The bear, believed to be about 2 years old and more than 100 pounds, was tranquilized and released unharmed in an undisclosed location.
"This is a rarity," Torrington Police Lt. Francis Balzano said. "I haven't heard of one downtown. They normally are seen on the outskirts of town near bird feeders and such, but sightings are increasing in more urban areas now."
The wayward bear climbed a tree Friday morning outside Vogel-Wetmore School, where dozens of children from an Education Connections camp watched through the windows. Several children pressed their faces against the glass as the bear dangled from the branches a few feet away.
Residents reported several bear sightings downtown Friday morning, including near City Hall, where Karina Turcotte said she unknowingly walked past the animal.
"I've never seen one this close other than in a zoo," she said.
Workers from the state Department of Environmental Protection attached a tranquilizer to a long pole and injected a sedative into the bear, which eventually fell and landed on several air-filled plastic bags.
State workers injected the bear two more times before he fell unconscious and was taken away.
In Connecticut, black bears can weigh close to 500 pounds and several have been noted weighing in the high 400s, DEP Officer Matt Tomassone said.
Balzano said bear sightings in Torrington, about 30 miles west of Hartford, have become more frequent.
"It's a concern for us," Balzano said. "Usually we get calls from people on the outskirts of town in their backyards and we tell people, 'Hey, enjoy it, stay inside, but enjoy it.' Obviously downtown is different and there are definite concerns."